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Kurt Seyit ve Sura (2014)
Uneven Storytelling With Interesting Story
First, let me say that I am aware this is a Turkish made series and that perhaps some of the choices for acting, music, scripting, etc. are not something that may translate 100% to a western audience. That being said, I don't think the cultural differences are significant enough here to make a difference in what I'm about to say. This starts out promising, if somewhat melodramatic, and then takes a nosedive into soap opera territory complete with operatic music. All in all it is too uneven and at times drags. To simplify things I've listed my pros and cons below:
PROS: Let's just go ahead and get this out there, the leading man is a hunk and his eyes are almost enough to make you want to believe anything. Much of the acting is good and the parts are cast well. The main romance, while initially somewhat over the top in speed and melodrama, is actually quite romantic and you want to root for this couple. Supporting characters such as Petro, Celil, and Tatya are compelling. The story itself, based on true events and people, is interesting as is the time and place in history. Seyit's family is interesting in its inner workings and the strictness by which the father rules. Scenery is beautiful. The character of Sura gets better as it goes.
CONS: This lands somewhere between 40-45 hours of television viewing and there's never a clear delineation between episodes or seasons so that it absolutely starts to feel like one long 45 hour movie. Far too many flashbacks of things we just saw one episode ago via daydreams or hallucinations. To me this was a waste of time and didn't add because it was overused. For those using subtitles there are times they flash so quickly and disappear that its impossible to read them without rewinding and pausing. Terrible continuity between scenes. One minute Sura's sister is ignoring here and telling her off and the next minute she's happy for her, but you're never sure what happened in between times to change the sister's mind. Another example is that Seyit and Sura are separated and yet somehow end up on the same boat with zero explanation as to how or why. You never get a breather from danger or separation from loved ones. It would have been nice to have maybe two whole episodes of serenity and quiet mixed in there. The music is at time abrasive and overused. It clearly tells you what you're meant to think for that scene. It get's so bad that there are a few time I honestly expected the villain to twirl his mustache. The lead actress surely got paid by the number of tears she could shed per episode. I don't think there's one where she doesn't. In the beginning it's hard to know what the lead characters actually see in each other besides beauty. They don't know each other but they are immediately in love and devoted to each other. Sura especially comes off as bland initially since she's not given much to say or do except be pretty and in love. This does change, but it was a hard way to start off. Overall, for people who are supposed to be so in love, they seem pretty miserable most of the time.
Since this is based on a real story its hard to criticize the trajectory and final outcome of the story, but the execution of the telling became labored and then with the swiftness of a lightning bolt takes another direction and ends. For me, I'm glad I'm acquainted with it but it would be hard to recommend this marathon to anyone unless they just love historic romance, unhappy people and have lots and lots of time to kill.
The Crimson Field (2014)
Intriguing Entertainment
I came to the show late (2019) via Amazon because I was fed up with US television offerings. What a gem of a show; it's a pity it didn't go more than one season. The overarching theme and concept of focusing on a WWI field hospital is a welcome departure from most war films/TV shows, especially the focus on the women nurses and VADs. I've learned quite a bit and it's given me a new appreciation and curiosity about that time in history. The writing is good and the cast is stellar giving a nuanced and grounded realism to their stories. I don't at all understand the reviewer who talks about doctors and nurses hooking up -- it doesn't happen once in the entire series.Which isn't to say there isn't a little romance in there, but it's the slow burn (Kitty/Thomas) and innocent kind (Flora/Charlie). On the whole, the focus is on the day-to-day of being in a field hospital in what must have been a brutal time by modern medicine standards. Shout-outs to Harris and Doyle for wonderful portrayals of leaders doing the best they can under the circumstances. All in all a wonderful reminder of those who came before and the sacrifices they made as well as entertaining and thoughtful.